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Using #14 wire for one light on 20A breaker maradcliff 12-11-2006
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Posted by on December 11, 2006, 10:12 am


I am wondering how the code views this. I was just wiring my barn and
ran out of 12-2 romex. Rather than buy more, I decided to just use
14-2 since I had 200 feet of it. This 14-2 is only going to one
light, one of those porcelin fixtures that are rated at 100W.

As far as safety, I am not worried in the least. It's only going to
run one 100W bulb (or less). As far as being inspected, I am also not
worried. In barns and sheds they really dont care, unless there are
bare wires or some obvious danger source. I'm just curious how the
code views that? For example, if I but a common house type ceiling
fixture, they generally have 8 inches or up to several feet (on a
chandlier) of #14 standed wire as part of the fixture. So, if I am
running a 20A circuit I am already using #14 in the circuit.

In my case, I have one center light fed by #12, and one light on the
left another on the right. Each of those lights are fed off the
center light with about 16 feet of #14.

Thanks

Mark

Posted by Toller on December 11, 2006, 10:50 am



>I am wondering how the code views this. I was just wiring my barn and
> ran out of 12-2 romex. Rather than buy more, I decided to just use
> 14-2 since I had 200 feet of it. This 14-2 is only going to one
> light, one of those porcelin fixtures that are rated at 100W.
>
> As far as safety, I am not worried in the least. It's only going to
> run one 100W bulb (or less). As far as being inspected, I am also not
> worried. In barns and sheds they really dont care, unless there are
> bare wires or some obvious danger source. I'm just curious how the
> code views that? For example, if I but a common house type ceiling
> fixture, they generally have 8 inches or up to several feet (on a
> chandlier) of #14 standed wire as part of the fixture. So, if I am
> running a 20A circuit I am already using #14 in the circuit.
>
> In my case, I have one center light fed by #12, and one light on the
> left another on the right. Each of those lights are fed off the
> center light with about 16 feet of #14.
>
The problem, as the NEC sees it is two fold. If somehow the light started
drawing too much current, the breaker would not protect the wiring. Or, if
that seems too farfetched, someone after you might change the light without
realizing the wire is inadequate.



Posted by Goedjn on December 11, 2006, 12:22 pm



>
>>I am wondering how the code views this. I was just wiring my barn and
>> ran out of 12-2 romex. Rather than buy more, I decided to just use
>> 14-2 since I had 200 feet of it. This 14-2 is only going to one
>> light, one of those porcelin fixtures that are rated at 100W.
>>
>> As far as safety, I am not worried in the least. It's only going to
>> run one 100W bulb (or less). As far as being inspected, I am also not
>> worried. In barns and sheds they really dont care, unless there are
>> bare wires or some obvious danger source. I'm just curious how the
>> code views that? For example, if I but a common house type ceiling
>> fixture, they generally have 8 inches or up to several feet (on a
>> chandlier) of #14 standed wire as part of the fixture. So, if I am
>> running a 20A circuit I am already using #14 in the circuit.
>>
>> In my case, I have one center light fed by #12, and one light on the
>> left another on the right. Each of those lights are fed off the
>> center light with about 16 feet of #14.
>>
>The problem, as the NEC sees it is two fold. If somehow the light started
>drawing too much current, the breaker would not protect the wiring. Or, if
>that seems too farfetched, someone after you might change the light without
>realizing the wire is inadequate.
>

Back when they still used knob and tube, you'd just
stick a ceramic fixture with a 15A fuse in it
between the heavy wiring and the lighter wiring.

Do they still make things like that, or is it
a full-blown sub-panel or nothing?

--Goedjn

Posted by dpb on December 11, 2006, 11:12 am


maradcliff@UNLISTED.com wrote:
> I am wondering how the code views this. I was just wiring my barn and
> ran out of 12-2 romex. Rather than buy more, I decided to just use
> 14-2 since I had 200 feet of it. This 14-2 is only going to one
> light, one of those porcelin fixtures that are rated at 100W.
>
> As far as safety, I am not worried in the least. It's only going to
> run one 100W bulb (or less). As far as being inspected, I am also not
> worried. In barns and sheds they really dont care, unless there are
> bare wires or some obvious danger source. I'm just curious how the
> code views that? ...
> In my case, I have one center light fed by #12, and one light on the
> left another on the right. Each of those lights are fed off the
> center light with about 16 feet of #14.

If you don't care, why ask? :)

By code, it's not up to snuff, because code is designed to protect the
fixed wiring, not the fixtures or other end load. I agree it's not an
inherent safety hazard as described as long as the use remains as is.

I would be somewhat suprised if an inspection (assuming you're in a
place where zoning applies and it will be inspected) didn't point it
out as a deficiency, but that would be dependent on, as you say, what
your local inspector's penchant/foibles is/are...

Of course, you can easily alleviate the issue by putting a 15A breaker
in the panel for that lighting circuit and be over-sized rather than
under-sized in a portion of the circuit.

Me being me, I'd probably have just got another roll of 12 and finished
it out simply for the self-aesthetics of the job and knowing that
eventually I'd use that roll for other stuff around the place, but
again, that's just me having had to grow up under my grandpa and dad...
:)


Posted by Steve Barker LT on December 11, 2006, 11:53 am


OH, but that would have cost $8.

--
Steve Barker


> maradcliff@UNLISTED.com wrote:
>
> Me being me, I'd probably have just got another roll of 12 and finished
> it out simply for the self-aesthetics of the job and knowing that
> eventually I'd use that roll for other stuff around the place, but
> again, that's just me having had to grow up under my grandpa and dad...
> :)
>



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